General News
Estate Agents Make It To Paris
6-May-2008
A group of 23 cyclists from Waterfords Estate Agents, Chobham Rugby Club and Totally Mortgages completed an epic journey to Paris by bicycle arriving at the Eiffel Tower at lunchtime on Sunday 4th May.
The challenge was organised by Sean Wickes, Operations Director at Waterfords, to raise money for two charities the Children With Special Need Foundation based in Camberley and the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Research Appeal. The six teams left Chobham Rugby Club in the pouring rain on Wednesday 30th April for the first leg of 56 miles down to Portsmouth and having taken the overnight ferry to Le Havre, the group arrived to welcome sunshine for the 175 mile ride to Paris along the banks of the River Seine.
Darren Sworn, Branch Manager at Waterfords in Camberley and an experienced cyclist said “ arriving in Paris on a beautiful sunny day with thousands of tourists about was an experience that one cannot describe and completing a physical challenge with such a big team for two fantastic charities does give you a real sense of wellbeing !” The whole event has raised in excess of £20,000 for the two charities and was initiated after a young 11 year old Chobham rugby player was diagnosed with spinal cancer in 2007 and he has been treated by The Royal Marsden cancer team. Waterfords have been associated with Children With Special Needs for 5 years as their nominated charity, and Brendan Cox MD of Waterfords commented “ This was a real challenge for the riders and the weather did them no favours when they went, but they persevered, and what a fantastic result to get there in one piece and to have raised so much money for such great causes. What will next years challenge be ?”
After a night out in Paris, the teams returned, via the Eurostar, to St Pancras and then onto Chobham Rugby Club where they were greeted by over 80 friends and family for a champagne celebration and BBQ.
email: sean.wickes@waterfords.co.uk
